June 24, 2010 │ No Flattery Today │ 1 Thessalonians 2:5

June 24, 2010

Building Strong Friendships in Christ

No Flattery Today

“For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness–“

1 Thessalonians 2:5 Page 1846

I went fishing recently and waded in the small waves casting my plug for fish. I fished my plug for about fifteen minutes, casting between the sets of waves, hoping to entice some predator to attack my artificial plug. Nothing happened. But, I enjoyed the beauty of the sunrise, walking in the water, and loving the morning. I happened to look on the beach, over my shoulder, and saw a great blue heron. With its striking long white plumes on its head, and pointed beak for spearing prey, I knew it was looking for a meal, and hoping I would bring it up on the beach for it. You see, this great blue heron knew all about surf fishermen, and knew from experience where he could find a meal. He had learned that I might just produce a meal for him that morning, and all he had to do was wait. It turned out, however, that he waited in vain for me, because I caught nothing. My plug, which looks like a fish, but is not really a fish, did not fool anything that morning.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:5, Paul talks about how he never used flattering speech to persuade the Thessalonians. Before I select a lure to entice fish, I try to watch what works at the place I am fishing. I learn from other fisherman, and from the fish in the water, what attracts predators to strike. I want them so excited by my plug, and its action in the water, that they cannot resist it. In fact, I prefer fairly calm water when I cast, so I can twitch my plug to imitate a fish in distress and persuade the predator to strike. The plug and its presentation to the fish make all the difference. You see, I am selling a fake to fish.

Paul never sold a fake, never faked anyone out, and never faked any part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He never preached error, impurity, or deceit. He never spoke to please men at the expense of pleasing God first and always. He never used flattering speech. Paul had been entrusted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by God’s power, the message of Jesus saved men from their sins.

Sometimes I fish with live bait I castnet in the surf. When I cast up a little fish, I put it in my bait bucket with an air pump to keep it alive. Then I use special flourocarbon leader, nearly invisible in the water, to connect my hook to my line on the fishing pole. I then hook the fish to my leader, with a small hook. I want the bait fish on my line to swim as naturally as possible. It is natural, and needs nothing from me to attract fish. I catch many fish in the daytime using live natural bait. I do not need to fool the fish, or twitch the bait. It swims by itself. I do not need to flatter the predators, or entice them in any way.

When you understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power of Jesus Christ, the living Lord, behind its message, and as the central Person of the message, then you will understand that you do not need to use flattering speech. In the New Testament, the term “flattering” only occurs here in 1 Thessalonians 2:5. In the book of Proverbs, flattery was used to describe the seductive words of the adulteress (Proverbs 2:16, page 1004) and for the man who spreads a net for his steps (Proverbs 29:5, page 1042).

The great blue heron that watched me fish left without a meal from me. I had nothing to give him, and I was not about to toss my plug to him and entice him to bite it. You see, I love those big birds, and understand their need to eat. Why would I want to entice the bird to eat something fake, and only pierce himself with hooks? The hooks in a fish’s rubbery lips cause no problems, but the heron would have serious problems eating. Flattering speech, especially when used to present the Gospel, detracts from the message and only creates the wrong impression. We never need to resort to flattery, because we actually tell people the truth about their sin, and their need for the Savior, Jesus Christ, to save them.

One other point about the great blue heron. It just stood there watching me, all four feet of the bird. It waited patiently, and kept its distance. It had no pretext for greed, because we both knew why it had come to visit me. If I just stand in the surf, the heron stays away. When I fish, it comes and stands near. It wants food, without pretext. The gulls are the same way. They only come to me when I have something to feed them. They are very straightforward, without pretext. They come to be fed. Paul said he never offered the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a pretext for greed. He came to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that people could be saved from their sins. He did not come for personal gain, for money, for fame, or any other hidden motive. He offered spiritual food from Jesus Christ, as a free gift. God watches me fish for men, and knows my motives.

So, we learn some more about building strong friendships in Christ.

● Strong bonds of friendship form when we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with using any form of flattery about ourselves or the audience. Spiritual friendships are not built upon a foundation of flattery. People hear the message of salvation for sinners, presented by a sinner saved by grace. When we share, we strengthen our friendships with other believers and make new friends in Christ through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by avoiding all flattery.

● Strong bonds of friendship grow when we remove any pretext for greed from our presentation of the Gospel. We do not need anyone’s money and do not seek earthly riches in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By the power of God, the Lord Jesus Christ shines through His Gospel.

● We undermine the power of the Gospel, and harm friendships, when we speak flattering words or use any pretext for greed, especially in presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Application for Today

Today, I want to avoid flattering speech and any pretext for greed in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What will your motives be today when you share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

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Welcome to Christ Assembly. As born-again believers, baptized by Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, we love to glorify God through the study and application of His Word, the Bible. As we study the Bible, we seek to know God better, and to introduce others to the loving salvation of Jesus Christ received by faith alone.

We value the spiritual gifts bestowed upon every born-again Christian and seek to equip them for the work of service for Christ Jesus. Only through every saint using the spiritual gift(s) bestowed upon them will the body of Jesus Christ reach spiritual maturity and avoid being blown about by every wind of doctrine. May God have all the glory, always.
HALLELUJAH !

Spiritual Help

Eternal Life

People often ask me about how they can find spiritual peace. They tell me about their serious illness, divorce, drug addiction, alcoholism, and many other problems that grieve them. So many people share with me that they have never felt truly loved in their entire life, even though they have been married for decades, and have grandchildren. So many people feel a spiritual hunger and thirst within themselves. Jesus loves people and wants you to know all about His great love. He called it the greatest news anyone will ever hear. So, let me share with you about Jesus, Who loves you today. In Jesus, you can receive peace with God today. Jesus alone provides spiritual peace.

Romans 10:9

“Jesus asks you: ‘Why should I let you into My heaven?'”

Let me start with a question. Imagine you were to die today, and stand before Jesus Christ. Imagine further that Jesus looked at you and asked: “Why should I let you into My heaven?”
Take a moment and think about what you would say to Jesus. I have personally asked that question to hundreds and hundreds of people, if not thousands, one person at a time. Jesus always deals personally with you. He knows your name, and loves you personally. Jesus knows your good points and your bad points.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

As God in the flesh, Jesus totally understands who we are as sinners. Sinners fall short of the glory of God. Sin separates us from spiritual peace with God today. In God’s eyes, we all fall short of the glory of God. We do not act perfectly all of the time and so fall short of His glory. We tell lies, we think impure thoughts, we do things we know we should not have done. The road to peace with God starts with understanding that we all sin and we all fall short of the glory of God. As sinners, we tend to hide our sins in darkness, but Jesus helps us recognize that we are sinners and need to come into the light of God. We take the first steps down the path of peace with God by agreeing with God that we are sinners. God helps us walk down the path of peace with God by His divine power. Only by God’s power can I change my mind and accept the truth that I am a sinner. I must repent of my sin and seek God’s forgiveness for my sin. How do I find forgiveness?

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus, the Son of God, offers forgiveness to sinners as a gift. In order to have peace with God, we must receive God’s gift of forgiveness. Before we can grasp God’s offer of forgiveness, we must understand God’s justice and how it works. God tells us that justice imposes a penalty upon sin. God said that the wages of sin is death. Just as we earn wages for our work, so sin earns the wage of death. This spiritual death results from us sinning and falling short of the glory of God. God cannot remain just, and simply ignore our sin. Justice requires that every sin be paid by the death penalty. You have sinned so you deserve to die spiritually. Sin causes the spiritual death of the sinner. Now let us focus upon the gift of God: forgiveness. As a sinner, deserving death, I really do not deserve a gift of eternal life. Instead of death, God wants me to have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yet, my sin blocks me from having eternal life. To sinners God loves to give the free gift of eternal life. Although I have earned the death penalty by sinning, God offers me eternal life as a free Christmas gift. I cannot earn the gift of eternal life, and I do not deserve the gift of eternal life. God just wants me to have His gift of eternal life. God purchased the gift of eternal life, just for me, the sinner. Why would God give me gift of eternal life?

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God gives the free gift of eternal life to sinners because God loves sinners like me. The road to peace with God means that I learn and accept that God loves sinners. Jesus came to love sinners. While I was a sinner, God loved me. So many people think that God hates sinners, but God tells us just the opposite right in this verse. I do not have to clean up my life before God will love me. God loves sinners. God gives the gift of eternal life to sinners, not to perfect people. You see, the gift of eternal life means that I believe that Jesus as God died for me on the cross. I recognize that I deserve the death penalty because I sinned, but Jesus took my place on the cross and died for all my sin. He satisfied God’s justice by paying the death penalty for me. God now offers me a free gift of eternal life, because Jesus loves sinners, and gave His life to die on the cross to pay for all my sins. Jesus demonstrated God’s love for sinners. How do I accept the free gift of God?

Romans 10:9

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You accept the free gift of God by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. We believe that God told us the truth that we fall short of the glory of God because we are sinners. Wonderfully, God loves sinners just like me. God purchased the gift of eternal life for me. I reach out by faith alone to accept the free gift from God. I believe that God sent Jesus as God in the flesh to die for me on the cross. Jesus paid the death penalty for me. Jesus satisfied the justice of God. New life in Jesus Christ begins with faith and continues for eternity. You can accept the free gift of eternal life right now, no matter where you are. Pray this prayer of faith.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and fall short of the glory of God.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I deserve the death penalty. I repent of my sins.

Lord Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross in my place, because You loved me and paid the death penalty for me.

Lord Jesus, I confess you as Lord of my life.

Lord Jesus, I believe that God raised You from the dead. I accept right now Your gift of forgiveness for all my sins, and thank You for saving me.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer in faith, please send me an email through the contact box below. I look forward to getting to know you and help you walk daily with Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and makes us new creations. You have an abundant life in front of you, filled with joy and peace with God. We must learn from Jesus, and He is humble and gentle with us.